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The Best Episodes of Biography

Every episode of Biography ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Biography!

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Biography is a documentary television series. It was originally a half-hour filmed series produced for CBS by David Wolper from 1961 to 1964 and hosted by Mike Wallace. The A&E Network later re-ran it and

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Biography Season 1 Episode 11 - Bonnie & Clyde: The Story of Love & Death
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - Bonnie & Clyde: The Story of Love & Death

    S1:E11

    She was a lonely waitress longing for excitement and romance. He was a volatile ex-con who vowed he would never go back to prison. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow found each other in the slums of Dallas and for two years they led a notorious gang on a murderous crime spree covering five states. In the depths of the Great Depression, their exploits became famous nationwide. Here, newsreel footage, period accounts, and interviews with biographers bring the story of the notorious outlaws to life. John Neal Phillips, author of Running with Bonnie and Clyde, traces their journey across the Southwest that left a dozen people dead, mostly law enforcement officers. Relive the dramatic ambush that finally put an end to the gangsters and see an exclusive interview with Marie Barrow, Clyde's sister. Across the dusty roads of the depression-era Southwest, Bonnie and Clyde shot their way into American folklore.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Biography Season 1 Episode 14 - Lizzie Borden: A Woman Accused
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - Lizzie Borden: A Woman Accused

    S1:E14

    Her sensational case captured the attention of the press worldwide. Though she proclaimed her innocence until her dying day, she was destined forever to be associated with murder. When Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother were found brutally murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts home, it marked the beginning of one of the most famous and sensational murder cases in history. Lizzie, a thoroughly respectable spinster, was tried for the crime. Though she was acquitted, she lived the rest of her life a pariah. BIOGRAPHY examines all the evidence in search of the truth, including period accounts, police reports and crime-scene photos. Discover how the crime and trial were sensationalized in the press worldwide and meet Borden experts who offer insight into Lizzie's life and reveal what they think really happened on that fateful day.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Biography Season 3 Episode 43 - Andrew Jackson: A Man for the People
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #3 - Andrew Jackson: A Man for the People

    S3:E43

    A portrait of "Old Hickory," President Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), from his Tennessee law days through his military career to his tenure as the seventh U.S. President. Included: interviews with historians. Monte Markham is the narrator.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Biography Season 5 Episode 7 - Albert DeSalvo: The Boston Strangler
    10.0/10(2 votes)

    #4 - Albert DeSalvo: The Boston Strangler

    S5:E7

    Albert DeSalvo was a Massachusetts criminal who became widely known as the self‑proclaimed “Boston Strangler,” a name linked to a series of brutal murders of women in the early 1960s. Raised in poverty and marked by abuse, DeSalvo developed a long record of theft, assault, and impersonation. He was first arrested for a string of “Green Man” sexual assaults, during which he confessed to the Strangler killings while in custody. Though his confession was detailed, he was never actually tried for the murders; instead, he received a life sentence for unrelated crimes. DeSalvo’s claims have remained controversial, with doubts about his guilt persisting long after his death in prison.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Biography Season 18 Episode 9 - Arnold Schwarzenegger
    9.5/10(2 votes)

    #5 - Arnold Schwarzenegger

    S18:E9

    Biography on the Action Legend from 2003.

    Director:Kevin Knoblock
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Biography Season 6 Episode 13 - Edward R. Murrow: Voice of America
    9.2/10(191 votes)

    #6 - Edward R. Murrow: Voice of America

    S6:E13

    He virtually invented broadcast journalism, setting all its standards and breaking all its rules. Edward R. Murrow is the pivotal figure in the history of TV news. But before he helped define that medium, he was already revered for his brilliant radio coverage of World War II. In bringing the epic struggle to millions of listeners worldwide, he became known as "the voice of America." This definitive profile includes extensive clips of these historic broadcasts along with footage from his career as a television pioneer. Discover how the insightful "hard news" programs he considered his best work never got the ratings he hoped for, and how he soon learned to give the viewers what they wanted creating the light, "frothy" celebrity profile that many feel is the curse of TV journalism to this day. Extensive interviews with colleagues and friends explore this professional paradox and reveal how it spilled over into his private life.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Biography

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  7. Biography Season 1 Episode 3 - Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - Bob Hope: America's Entertainer

    S1:E3

    His career started in the glory days of vaudeville. More than 70 years later, he is revered as the most popular and influential entertainer of the century, the show-biz giant all others are measured against. On stage and screen, on TV and radio, on Broadway and USO stages worldwide, Bob Hope has enjoyed a career of unmatched popularity. In this special, feature-length presentation, Biography traces his remarkable life, from his vaudeville debut he had third billing, behind a trained seal to entertaining the troops of Desert Storm. Extensive clips capture his greatest performances, while family photos and the recollections of friends, colleagues and family provide an intimate portrait of the private man. And Hope himself reflects on his life and legacy, from his groundbreaking work in TV and radio to his close friendships with U.S. presidents. Biography proudly presents the incredible life of an entertainer who has left his mark not just on his profession, but on the nation.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Biography Season 10 Episode 27 - RFK: His Many Sides
    8.8/10(147 votes)

    #8 - RFK: His Many Sides

    S10:E27

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Biography Season 11 Episode 22 - Peter O'Toole: Acting Out Loud
    8.8/10(115 votes)

    #9 - Peter O'Toole: Acting Out Loud

    S11:E22

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Biography Season 1 Episode 13 - Frederick Douglass
    8.7/10(110 votes)

    #10 - Frederick Douglass

    S1:E13

    As a young man, he experienced the brutality of slavery firsthand. As an outspoken leader of the abolitionist movement, he became one of the most powerful voices in American history. Frederick Douglass inadvertently found his calling while giving an impromptu speech at an anti-slavery meeting in 1841. As a formerly enslaved man, he quickly became not only a persuasive speaker, but also a poignant symbol of freedom. His insightful and eloquent lectures and tireless efforts to educate the public about the realities of slavery significantly furthered the abolitionist cause. This inspiring BIOGRPAHY program chronicles Douglass's remarkable life, from his childhood in slavery to his crucial work on behalf of formerly enslaved people following the Civil War. Rare photographs and extensive interviews with leading historians offer a revealing portrait of this extraordinary man.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Biography Season 6 Episode 5 - Caligula: Reign of Madness
    8.6/10(140 votes)

    #11 - Caligula: Reign of Madness

    S6:E5

    His reign lasted only four years and he was dead at the age of 28. Yet, as the third emperor of the Roman empire, he remains one of the most notorious rulers in history. Best remembered for his bacchanalian lifestyle and callous, heavy-handed ruling style, Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, or “Caligula,” as he was known, packed a lot into a very short life. In this incisive program, Biography goes beyond the legend to explore the anguished life of this infamous emperor. Discover how the first six months of Caligula’s rule were marked by a surprising degree of clemency and how a violent illness seemingly transformed him into the monster that history remembers today. Featuring interviews with leading scholars, Caligula: Reign of Madness is the ultimate profile of Rome’s most reviled ruler: the bizarre, bloodthirsty Caligula.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Biography Season 11 Episode 1 - Drew Barrymore: Beating the Odds
    8.6/10(104 votes)

    #12 - Drew Barrymore: Beating the Odds

    S11:E1

    Born into a famous family of talented, but troubled actors, Drew Barrymore overcomes turmoil to become a Hollywood superstar.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Biography Season 6 Episode 16 - Elizabeth: The Reluctant Monarch
    8.5/10(132 votes)

    #13 - Elizabeth: The Reluctant Monarch

    S6:E16

    The episode presents an in‑depth profile of Queen Elizabeth II, exploring how a young woman who never expected to rule became one of the most enduring monarchs in modern history. Through archival footage and expert commentary, it traces her early life, the abdication crisis that unexpectedly placed her father on the throne, and the responsibilities that fell on Elizabeth as heir. The program examines her steady, measured approach to leadership, her commitment to duty, and the personal sacrifices required by her role. By highlighting key moments from her early reign and the challenges of guiding a changing nation, the episode portrays Elizabeth as a thoughtful, disciplined figure whose reluctance gave way to a lifetime of service.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Biography Season 10 Episode 2 - Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa
    8.5/10(129 votes)

    #14 - Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa

    S10:E2

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Biography Season 11 Episode 33 - Angie Dickinson: Tinseltown's Classiest Broad
    8.5/10(129 votes)

    #15 - Angie Dickinson: Tinseltown's Classiest Broad

    S11:E33

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Biography Season 9 Episode 25 - Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero
    8.4/10(168 votes)

    #16 - Henry Fonda: Hollywood's Quiet Hero

    S9:E25

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Biography Season 10 Episode 17 - General George Patton: A Genius for War
    8.4/10(96 votes)

    #17 - General George Patton: A Genius for War

    S10:E17

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Biography Season 10 Episode 21 - Joseph Stalin: Red Terror
    8.4/10(121 votes)

    #18 - Joseph Stalin: Red Terror

    S10:E21

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Biography Season 1 Episode 10 - Napoleon Bonaparte: The Glory of France
    8.3/10(127 votes)

    #19 - Napoleon Bonaparte: The Glory of France

    S1:E10

    He took France to its greatest period of influence in history. But his ego and thirst for ever more power led to one of the greatest downfalls ever. Napoleon Bonaparte stands as one of the greatest military commanders to ever live. As a ruler he brought France to unprecedented heights of glory only to see it unravel as a result of his arrogance. Examine the life and legend of the Corsican commander's greatest military victories in detail. Trace his rise to power and tragic decline, and explore the monumental legacy that continues to influence the world to this day.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Biography Season 6 Episode 12 - Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Psychic
    8.3/10(112 votes)

    #20 - Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Psychic

    S6:E12

    While appearing to sleep, he touched the lives of thousands and saw into the future. His remarkable gift made him the most famous spiritualist since Nostradamus. Edgar Cayce downplayed his apparently supernatural abilities, saying, "I don't do anything you can't do, if you're willing to pay the price." The price must have been high indeed, for he seemingly traveled through space and time with his mind alone. Biography profiles the life of the man known as "the sleeping psychic." See how he predicted both World Wars and the 1929 stock market crash, and diagnosed the illnesses of people sometimes thousands of miles away, all from a trance-like sleep. See how his prescriptions for the afflictions he diagnosed foreshadowed many of the staples of today's holistic and homeopathic cures. Spiritualists and cynics examine his gift and career, while contemporary accounts and interviews with those he helped cure testify to his astonishing abilities.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Biography Season 7 Episode 44 - Dean Martin: Everybody Loves Somebody
    8.3/10(111 votes)

    #21 - Dean Martin: Everybody Loves Somebody

    S7:E44

    Throughout his legendary partnership with Jerry Lewis and years of solo stardom, his laid‑back charm made everything look easy. Dean Martin was one of America’s greatest celebrities for more than 50 years. Discovered by Jerry Lewis in Atlantic City, the young singer joined the madcap comedian to create one of the most famous entertainment teams ever. When their tumultuous ten‑year partnership ended, Martin went on to a string of solo successes as an actor and singer. Biography presents the definitive Dean Martin story—including movies with the Rat Pack and knocking the Beatles from the top slots in the charts—drawing on rare clips and photos and candid interviews with family, friends, and co‑stars. From his early days as a card shark and prizefighter to his zenith as the highest‑paid entertainer in the world, Dean Martin profiles a truly unforgettable man.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Biography Season 11 Episode 26 - Ida Lupino: Through the Lens
    8.3/10(121 votes)

    #22 - Ida Lupino: Through the Lens

    S11:E26

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Biography Season 11 Episode 31 - Bob Fosse: Dancing on the Edge
    8.3/10(93 votes)

    #23 - Bob Fosse: Dancing on the Edge

    S11:E31

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Biography Season 11 Episode 32 - William Holden: An Untamed Spirit
    8.3/10(123 votes)

    #24 - William Holden: An Untamed Spirit

    S11:E32

    Peter Graves narrates this account of the life and career of William Franklin Beedle, Jr., from his 1918 birth, in O'Fallon, Illinois, to his formative years in Monrovia and South Pasadena, California, where William enters Pasadena Playhouse to begin his acting career for which he would later become famous as screen star William Holden.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Biography Season 11 Episode 14 - Mick Foley: Madman Unmasked
    8.2/10(28 votes)

    #25 - Mick Foley: Madman Unmasked

    S11:E14

    Get behind the mask of Mankind - all about Mick Foley, from his beginnings to his success in the WWF.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Bonnie & Clyde: The Story of Love & Death" is the best rated episode of "Biography". It scored 10/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 6/15/1987. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Lizzie Borden: A Woman Accused".